Sleep Habits that can Help
My summer schedule is always different than winter, especially my sleep habits. I go to bed later, usually not at the same time, and wake up later and at different times. My restless legs seem to act up more. So is there a correlation between keeping the same sleep schedule and RLS? We hear all the time how important it is to maintain a regular sleep schedule for good health but can it also make RLS worse? I was reading on the website for the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute and ran across these points on sleep and wanted to share them.
Adopt good sleep habits:
- Keep your bedroom or sleep area cool, quiet, comfortable, and free of unnecessary light.
- Use your bedroom for sleeping, not for watching TV or using computers or cell phones.
- Go to bed every night at the same time and wake up at the same time every morning. Some people with RLS find it helpful to go to bed later in the evening and get up later in the morning. The important thing is to get enough sleep so that you feel rested when you wake up.
- Follow a program of moderate exercise
Other activities before bed that also may help relieve symptoms include:
- Walking or stretching
- Taking a hot or cold bath
- Massaging the leg or arm
- Using heat or ice packs
Good advice!
Kris
